Clean install of Windows 11 Build 22533.1001 on VMware Player 16.2.2

I don't have a Windows license for VM and cannot activate.

When I did a Hyper-V test, I used an old Win 7 key and it worked, but not in this case, I don't have any extra keys to try. 😉

Hi fg,

Create a Windows 7 x64 VM, activate with that key and upgrade to Windows 11.

Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 11 Insider Preview on a Virtual Machine

edit: make a backup or don't delete it from the original location so you can clean install anytime.

Hi Sibro,

With my configuration I could not install Windows 7 in VM in EFI mode, it could not find the drivers to support the disk.

It installs Windows 7 fine without EFI, but with EFI it could not see the disk where to install windows.

No Idea what driver it needs for that.

It works fine with the Windows 11 ISO, but not with the Windows 7 ISO.

Hi Pauli,

New version today.

I don't have a Windows license for VM and cannot activate.

When I did a Hyper-V test, I used an old Win 7 key and it worked, but not in this case, I don't have any extra keys to try. 😉

Hi fg,

Create a Windows 7 x64 VM, activate with that key and upgrade to Windows 11.

Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 11 Insider Preview on a Virtual Machine

Hi Sibro,

I may give it a try next time, assuming I can still find my latest Win 7 ISO, but I'm afraid they will see that key was already used on am older box.

Also, it took it previously for Windows 11 when I tested Hyper-V VM, so it may not be valid anymore for a new VM.

I don't have a Windows license for VM and cannot activate.

When I did a Hyper-V test, I used an old Win 7 key and it worked, but not in this case, I don't have any extra keys to try. 😉

Hi fg,

Create a Windows 7 x64 VM, activate with that key and upgrade to Windows 11.

Upgrading Windows 7 to Windows 11 Insider Preview on a Virtual Machine

edit: make a backup or don't delete it from the original location so you can clean install anytime.

Hi Johnny,

I tried the whole exercise on a fully compliant UEFI Host with Windows 11 22000.438.

I showed earlier the Installation process, for a clean install of 22533.1001.

I did not see any major differences from my previous tests, except for 2 messages that I did not see on the old machine.

When trying to boot from ISO on the UEFI guest still goes through a minute timeout before showing the boot menu,

Maybe there is a better way to control that on the Pro version but cannot find any way on the free player.

Anyway, I tried both with and without Windows Hypervisor Platform installed on the Host, it worked in both cases.

I don't have a Windows license for VM and cannot activate.

When I did a Hyper-V test, I used an old Win 7 key and it worked, but not in this case, I don't have any extra keys to try. 😉

New VMware Player 16.2.2 today.